Daves Report
Tony arrived at my house at about 8am, luckily I was nearly ready. Unfortunately it was raining. Tony was keen to try out his super-dooper new boots (made from Water Buffalo skin). When we arrived at Haydock John and Rob were already there and rearing to go! At 9am we headed off via Culcheth over the Warburton Toll Bridge to Lymm truck stop. After a tour of the lorry park we found Jim and Peter.
No-one else turned up so we headed for darkest Cheshire. Jim’s lovely Enfield was making a curious noise, something like 2 seagulls fighting in a dustbin! Anyway the rain had stopped as we rode through Appleton Thorn, Preston Brook and through Frodsham. Delamere Forest was beautiful and we rode along some nice, quiet lanes and through lovely villages until we reached Ellesmere. No, not Ellesmere Port, it’s a lake not the Mersey! Good coffee though and a nice sit-down by the Mere. We strayed into Wales a bit and we never seemed to be more than a few miles from Wrexham or Whitchurch but eventually we arrived back at Delamere Forest for a break at the Station Café. Albert Roberts from the Cheshire section rode in and we needed to avert our eyes as he dazzled us in his new yellow (bright yellow) full-face helmet. After the usual leg-pulling we set off for the Anderton Boat lift near Northwich.
At the Boat Lift some German tourists were on hand to explain how it worked. Jim, Tony and Albert had stayed in the car-park as they didn’t want to get over-excited. We managed to tear ourselves away from the action and continued our round-up of Cheshire after saying ‘Tera’ to Albert. We couldn’t find a ford so we made our way back to the Truck Stop.
Many thanks to Jim for planning a really nice day out.
Dave Ashcroft.
Tonys Report
I got up at 6.30 on Saturday morning called for Dave at 8.00 and we set off on a wet and grey morning to meet Bob and John Iball at the petrol station by the motorway on the East Lanc’s Road. No one else turned up so we set off to meet Jim at Lymm services. The route we took was over the Warburton Bridge, The charges for cars has gone up to 12p and the toll collection causes long tail backs during week days but no charge for bikes still.
We met Jim and Peter at the services and waited for anyone else but no one else arrived by the set off time so off we went. The roads quickly dried up and the six of us had a good run to The Mere near the Welsh border. (Was this Ellesmere? Ed) We had a good chat over tea and butties. then set off through some great Cheshire country lanes and arrived at Delamere Railway station for tea and cakes. Jim had arranged to meet Albert Roberts from the Cheshire section here and after a short while Albert arrived. A long chat session was held before we all headed off to the Anderton Boat Lift. Here Bob investigated all aspects of the lift.(Typical engineer!) We then set off to return to the Lymm services and Albert departed for home somewhere along the way. After another chat at Lymm about the day’s run with no rain, we all headed our separate ways for home. Bob John and I went over the Warburton bridge again, (its the Manchester ship canal Company that charges the toll, I googled it!) I arrived back at home at 6.00pm tired but the little 350cc was great to ride at the speeds we go. Peter on his big heavy BMW struggled, someone suggested that he would be better on a Honda 90cc!
Thanks to Jim for arranging and leading the ride. It was enjoyed by all.